The Language of Habits

Over the years, I've heard numerous discussions about habits.  Speaking as a layperson who has never had the opportunity to wear one, I offer my humble perspective.  Which is:  I personally find a habit to be a striking witness.  

It seems an external thing, and of course it is.  But a habit speaks volumes to the world around.  And I wonder: could it even speak to those who wear it day after day?  After all, we humans are affected by symbols, probably at levels beyond what can be discussed in words.

What does a habit say to me when I see it?  "I have found God to be worth the gift of my whole life," it tells me. "Nothing on earth is as important as He."

I think back to once when I'd been visiting a convent.  I was escorted to the street by a Sister wearing the same graceful habit her foundress wore in the 1600s.  As I got into my car, a gentleman passed by on the sidewalk and saw Sister across the fence.  He spoke to her, then stopped to talk.  Sister graciously stood to chat with this man (someone she had apparently never met), and as I left I heard the man say he was a former Catholic.  This gentleman seemed to be launching into a particularly important discussion - perhaps one which would affect him long after he walked on. Yet the meeting would have not taken place had this woman not been clearly identifiable as “Sister.” 

As a cloistered heart, I wear - and speak - the language of habits.  We've talked of this before in these pages.  To look at our original post on this, click on this line.

In the meantime, today I'm checking on the condition of my habits.  Am I in the habit of responding to persons and situations with love, kindness, generosity of spirit?  Am I in the habit of spending time with God in prayer?  May God clothe me ... and allow me to be seen.... in the habits of a cloistered heart.

“Do you see how little it takes to become a saint?  All that is necessary is acquiring the habit of wanting to do the will of God at all times.” (St. Vincent de Paul)

“Clothe me, O eternal Truth, clothe me with yourself, that I may run my mortal course with true obedience and the light of holy faith…” (St. Catherine of Siena)

“I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice.” (Isaiah 61:10)

(Herbert James Draper painting US public domain)

© 2012 Nancy Shuman thecloisteredheart.org

Witness from a Lamb

As we are reminded, today, that we have a Good Shepherd willing to lay down His life for each one of us, I again pass along words from our friend Joy:

“This morning in my quiet time, I was given this image in my mind of The Good Shepherd and myself....

“I was one of many of His lambs following Him, but, oh, so often I would wander off the path.  I was a stubborn, dumb, curious little lamb and Our Lord was constantly having to come and find me and rescue me from some trouble of my own making that I was getting into; to the point where He finally put a bell around my neck so He could come to my aid. 

“As I’ve matured in my spiritual life and have grown on my journey, I am now a full grown, mature sheep.   He has been able to remove the bell from my neck because I no longer wander off on my own, but stay very close to Him, never leaving His side.  As He would sit and rest on a big rock at the side of a lake with all of His lambs safely around Him, I would come and lie by His side as close as I could, touching Him, comforting Him, and longing for His touch.  He would lovingly reach down and stroke me, reassuring me and comforting me in return.  I have no desire to ever leave Him.   I will try not to wander away again, but always stay at His side and on His path of obedience. 

“But still and all, knowing and trusting that should I, in a weak moment, veer off of the path again, I know He will never give up on me, or tire of coming to me and bringing me back to His side.”

In the cloister of God's will, we are not left to fend for ourselves.  We have Someone tending to us, constantly loving us; Someone rescuing us from harm and setting us on the right path over and over. 

He never tires of caring for us.  He never, ever tires.  

"I am the good shepherd.  I know My sheep, and My sheep know Me, in the same way that the Father knows Me and I know the Father; for these sheep I will give My life.... I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one shall snatch them out of My hand."  (John 10:14-15, 28)

The Lighted Path

Our friend Joy went on retreat recently, and brought back the following rays of light...

"In the monastery, there were lit pathways and grounds with the safety and security of the tall brick wall surrounding us.  I can just see in my mind these lit pathways all around the enclosure within God's will, and how we are called to walk these paths that would otherwise be too dark, uneven and dangerous in places. 

"But by depending on the glow that comes from the ever so gentle light that washes over our way and guides us safely though the obstacles that lie on our path to the finish, we are thankful and even happy that this obedience is there for us.  It is easy to see when we have the light guiding us along, but if we veer off on our own and without this light, we are on our own to face whatever difficulties lie in the unseen.  

"Because of our free will and self love, we think we know best and we become a little adventurous - breaking free of the loving way that God has prepared for us.  Hopefully we soon realize our mistake and see our fault and run back to the loving safety of the light that has never gone out.  It has ever remained where it was, calling us back to the easier path, the way that is lit with God's love."  

"A lamp to my feet is Your word, a light to my path."  (Psalm 119:105)

"If we walk in light, as He is in the light,we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of His Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin."  (1 John 1:7)

"Let us walk in the light of the Lord!"  (Isaiah 2:5)

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org      

  

(Georges de la Tours painting public domain)  

A Monastery on Wheels

“When you use the analogy of the grille of God’s will and imagine yourself protected by it, you really do see things in a new light. I think a perfect example of this was when I placed myself there on my 40 minute drives back and forth to work, battling very unpleasant traffic. Suddenly it didn’t matter if everyone seemed to try to push me out of the way - I was alone with God and nothing else was of any concern.” (Jane)

Jane's words capture perfectly, I think, the "whereabouts" of heart-cloister.  For each one of us, cloister of the heart is where we happen to be.  I know I say this over and over... because, frankly, I need to be reminded over and over.  

Reading Jane's words tonight, I am struck by the fact that she placed herself behind the grille of God's will.  It was a conscious decision.  Because of this choice, Jane's car became a monastery on wheels.  It was as if grillwork had been stretched across her windshield.  

Through the noise and the bustle and the rush and the traffic, her gaze was set firmly on God.  

"Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, Who inspires and perfects our faith."  (Hebrews 12:2)

Text not in quotes © 2012 Nancy Shuman.  All Rights Reserved.
thecloisteredheart.org      

No Need for Mirrors

Under normal circumstances, there are no mirrors in cloisters.  To me, this makes a great deal of sense and provides rich food for meditation.

The cloister is not a place for self-focus.  One's eyes must begin to turn, there, from self to God.  That is the point.

"This is the aim in religion, for in this consists Christian perfection:  to die to self so perfectly that we can say with the apostle:  'the life I live is not my own; Christ is living in me.' (Galatians 2:20)."  (St. Francis de Sales)

"Fix your eyes on Jesus."  (Hebrews 3:1)



(painting in US public domain)